Higher Walton Church of England Primary School, Preston
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, caring school where children feel valued and secure. Staff build strong relationships and children behave well, showing respect and empathy for one another. The school is particularly strong in teaching early reading skills and providing thoughtful support for children with additional needs or disadvantages.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics teaching in early years and key stage 1, helping pupils develop reading fluency and confidence
- Effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, including specialist counselling and adapted activities
- Well-designed curriculum that is ambitious and clearly sequenced, helping pupils progress and talk confidently about learning
- Positive school culture focused on respect, safety and resilience, with pupils showing genuine care for one another
- Strong safeguarding practices with an open, positive culture where concerns are actively identified and managed
Areas for Improvement
- Writing skills in key stage 2 - many older pupils have gaps in writing knowledge and do not write fluently enough
- Pupil attendance below national averages, particularly among disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- Inconsistent evaluation of support for disadvantaged pupils, meaning some do not make expected progress
- Need to continue reducing pupil absence rates to improve learning outcomes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Choir, gardening club, crown green bowls, boccia, science days at local university, engineering projects, visits to local church and park
Higher Walton Church of England Primary School is a nurturing school where pupils feel safe and behave well. The school has made improvements in several areas since the last inspection, though there are ongoing challenges with writing achievement and pupil attendance.
At a Glance
34.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 62% to 82%. Maths has improved from 62% to 71%. Writing has remained stable at around 59%.
Class Sizes
19.4
Avg class size
18.5
KS2
5
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
68%
Available places
81 pupils
119 capacity
38 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Preston
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Preston
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
15,664
Applications
12,136
Got 1st preference
93.0%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(108)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.83632%
Overall absence
20%
Persistent absence
85
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Higher Walton Church of England Primary School
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